‘Call Me If You Miss Me’ by Max McNown - Lyrics & Meaning

First teasing ‘Call Me When You Miss Me’ on social media on February 22, up-and-comer Max McNown let the anticipation for his brooding new single build for a few weeks.

Following up the next day, we were given the first taste of heartbreak when he posted a performance video of the song from soundcheck before his gig at Nashville's Exit/In.

This painfully relatable story takes place in the aftermath of a break-up. As McNown reflects on what has happened, those hopes of getting back together don’t go away–in fact, there are reminders of his love everywhere and anywhere.

As the song progresses, the repetitions of "call me if you miss me" become increasingly longing. With verses written like a phone call conversation, it leaves us wondering if this scenario really happened or if it’s a "what-i-want-to-say" situation.

Despite the heartbreak, we're left with a somewhat hopeful sentiment... or perhaps he just really needs some closure.

Fueled by some pretty guitar picking throughout, McNown’s relatively airy vocals are full of heartache. A simple downward moving melody on the chorus makes each of his requests increasingly pleading.

The track kicks up a notch as it moves into the second verse, a steady percussion pushing the song forward along with McNown’s attempts to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Produced by Jamie Kenney, who worked on McNown’s most recent album, Night Diving, there’s a nice continuity in sound, assuring us that this pair fit together very well.

“How’s Arizona?
Did you get that Winnebago like you said you would
I’m three weeks sober
And I’ve been trying my best I guess it’s going good"

Starting the conversation with “How’s Arizona?,” we can assume that this heartbreak was perhaps the result of a move away. After all, McNown is a Nashville-based artist now.

As he asks if she got that Winnebago RV, we get the feeling that perhaps the girl that broke his heart is a bit of a wandering soul, which may not be McNown’s style.

As he’s been left behind, he’s been trying his best to forget, move on and stay sober.

“I left your love note in the pocket of my jacket in the closet
Can't wear it out it hurts too much you wore it the last time I saw you”

Memories are hard to escape, even the smallest of things can throw us a curveball and remind us of things that are just a little too difficult to think about.

He can’t throw that little love letter away (there are probably some good memories there, too), but instead, he buries it as deep as he can and shuts it away in the back of the closet. Although, McNown does still have the jacket, so maybe he’s holding out hope that this girl will be wearing it again one day?

“Goodbyes turn to poetry
Heartbreak turns to whiskey
And if you turn to lonely
Call me if you miss me
Call me if you miss me"

Goodbyes can be bittersweet... or sometimes just bitter.

Just like poetry, we revisit them and dissect them until every single detail has been explored. And in classic country style, when those details get a little too overwhelming McNown turns to the whiskey.

If he’s “three weeks sober,” though, maybe the heartbreak doesn’t run too deep? Maybe, as he mentions in the next line, he’s just lonely.

"I passed your mom's house
I swear I saw her through the window and she waved as I drove by
Wish I could let you know
I see the shadows of your footsteps everywhere I go
And the echoes of the memories
I try hard to shake them but they won't leave me alone
So"

Along the same lines, memories linger in places, too.

When McNown is the one that stayed behind, it’s inevitable that he’ll find reminders of the girl on his mind everywhere he goes. No matter how hard he tries to let them go, the “shadows” and “echoes” won’t leave him alone.

"Get in a car
And come on over
If you need one
I got a shoulder
And if you've had a hard time moving on and getting closure
Maybe it ain't over"

McNown may not be the only one that’s feeling lonely and, as hard as a breakup can be, sometimes the only person you can find comfort in is the one that left.

Despite all of the pain and attempts to forget, he's still willing to offer a shoulder to cry on. After going over and over the memories, the song ends with a hopeful pondering that "maybe it ain't over."

Hopeful or a little delusional, either way, we’ve all been there.

“Goodbyes turn to poetry
Heartbreak turns to whiskey
And if you turn to lonely
Call me if you miss me
Call me if you miss me"

Max McNown is yet to give an explanation of the story behind ‘Call Me If You Miss Me’, whether it’s a story based on real life experience, or a product of a writer’s pen is yet to be determined.

However, his anticipation to share that story is obvious from the string of reels posted on his Instagram over the past few weeks. Captioning some of these teasers are "#heartbreaksongs #heartbreak #sadsongs" – he knows his audience.

How's Arizona?
Did you get that Winnebago like you said you would
I'm three weeks sober
And I've been trying my best I guess it's going good
I left your love note in the pocket of my jacket in the closet
Can't wear it out it hurts too much you wore it the last time I saw you

Goodbyes turn to poetry
Heartbreak turns to whiskey
And if you turn to lonely
Call me if you miss me
Call me if you miss me

I passed your mom's house
I swear I saw her through the window and she waved as I drove by
Wish I could let you know
I see the shadows of your footsteps everywhere I go
And the echoes of the memories
I try hard to shake them but they won't leave me alone
So

Goodbyes turn to poetry
Heartbreak turns to whiskey
And if you turn to lonely
Call me if you miss me
Call me if you miss me

Get in a car
And come on over
If you need one
I got a shoulder
And if you've had a hard time moving on and getting closure
Maybe it ain't over

Goodbyes turn to poetry
Heartbreak turns to whiskey
And if you turn to lonely
Call me if you miss me
Call me if you miss me

Call me if you miss me
Call me if you miss me
Call me if you miss me

––

For more on Max McNown, see below: